Doubtful Love
by: xo0starfire0ox
Chapter 26
DISCLAIMER: I DON"T OWN ANYTHING, EXCEPT FOR THE PLOT!
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The next day, everyone was in a sort of happier note. Jeanne was able to go back to the Asakura residence. The team made arrangements for Hao to remain in the house, under careful supervision of Faust and Eliza.
"I know it may be a little too much to ask, Faust, but please treat him like you would to me. He is my brother after all." Yoh said. Faust nodded.
"Of course. Whatever you wish." Faust said and went right to work. Jeanne looked at the still motionless body as they carried him out of the van in a cot.
"Faust-kun please let me know if there's any way I could be of help." Jeanne asked the doctor.
"Well, we do need someone to watch over him constantly, just in case. And well, Yoh and Anna-chan are always off doing stuff together. To think of it, everyone's always going off with their beloved." Faust said as he triggered a memory. '"Jeanne-chan? Do you ever wonder if there's anyone out there for you?"' Jeanne recalled and smiled. 'Don't worry, Hao, I think I already know who that is.' Jeanne said fondly as she went into the house. He loved her, and she'll make sure that she'll repay that love. After all, you can't hate someone that loves you.
Days passed, weeks passed, and before anyone knew it, five months has passed. But with each day, Hao still remained in his bed, still unconscious and basically dead. And with each day, Jeanne's guilt grew, the guilt that it was she that had put him in this position. Looking back, she judged her actions, and passed judgment. Her actions and tone towards him was indeed powerful. But nothing can defeat love, is there? Seeing him on the bed, more likely his deathbed, she wept daily. She had asked why many times, why he was chosen for her. She asked why he had to love her, why enemies had to love each other. Yet, no answer yielded itself. And before she knew it, his love was returned with great longing. And with each day, Jeanne's love grew much greater and stronger. Every day, she'll come home and visit him. She'll talk to him about her day, about her thoughts, knowing that Hao will listen to her when others can't. She strongly believed that he'd come back to her. She knew he had to. And grasping onto that single hope, she stopped weeping for a while. She decided that this wasn't a thing to mourn about, but to hope for the future and simply sit tight for a while.
"Hello, Hao!" Jeanne said tiredly, as she entered the room. She took her seat at a chair by the sleeping shaman.
"Well, today was an okay day. Nothing much happened…" Jeanne began her usual routine, but today, she didn't feel like talking when there was no response. "Hao, I really wish you would wake up…" Jeanne whispered as she put her head on the bed and took hold of his hand.
"Hao, please come back. I have something to tell you…" She mumbled sleepily as her eyes slowly shut as she fell asleep from her long day.
Something rustled within her hand, yet she held it close, knowing how dear and near it was to her. It tried wiggling out free, but still, she held it close, close to her heart. With each tug it gave, Jeanne held it firmer.
"Ow, let go of me!" A voice demanded. Jeanne's eyebrows furrowed up. She knows that voice; she knew it all too well. Her eyes fluttered open and she immediately sat up. Sitting before her was the man that won her heart, which she waited months to be able to see again, alive and well. She gaped in astonishment and then threw her arms around him, crying tears of blissful happiness and joy.
"Hey lady, would you mind getting off me?" She heard him say. Shocked by his response, Jeanne immediately broke apart from him.
"What? Is the great Hao Asakura that attractive?" He asked. She looked at him and then let out a small laugh.
"Very funny Hao, but no need to be smug." Jeanne said, but when he didn't show one bit of laughter, she immediately grew terrified. She flung open the door.
"Faust-kun, come quick!" She shouted at the top of her lungs. Not only did the doctor come, but also the whole gang.
"He's…I don't know what happened. He woke up, and he just isn't himself." Jeanne said as she looked at the strange man before her. Faust walked over to the boy and Hao immediately smirked.
"Why, how nice, a little welcoming party, no?" He said. Faust looked at him with annoyance. "And Yoh, famous for defeating me, has also come, eh? Well, I think it's time for a little rematch."
"What?" Jeanne asked in shock as Hao summoned the Great Spirit of Fire.
"What, Hao, no! What are you doing?" She asked.
"Why you don't think I'll let this opportunity of a spare pass, do you, my dear Iron Maiden?" He asked and smirked. Jeanne stared at him in awe. He's so different.
"Meet your match!" Hao said as he flung his fiery attack on Yoh. Yoh stunned and shocked at his unexpected attack, unfortunately got hit. A few more footsteps were heard as the others arrived. But each one stood gaping. One, Hao was awake, but sadly, he's evil again. Jeanne stood by the corner, looking at the horrendous display before. Hao, her Hao is once again her enemy, someone that just might kill her. But she couldn't. She couldn't raise her hand to him, because she knew. She had loved him.
"Yoh, what is going on?" Anna asked in astonishment. Yoh stood under a shield.
"I don't know. But whatever you do, do not lay a finger on Onii-chan. He's just a little confused. Right, Faust?" Yoh said, still managing a weak smile. Faust looked at Yoh with most serious look on earth.
"I'm afraid the coma had somehow resurrected our most hated enemy. I'm uncertain about how, but I'm afraid Hao is back to his wicked ways." Faust determined. Jeanne gasped and shook her head in shock. 'No…Hao…it can't be. You were going to come back, you were. And we would be together…but how? Why?' she asked in agony.
"What is wrong, Iron Maiden? I'm not what you had expected?" Hao said haughtily. She raised her eyes to meet his dark chocolate ones; the ones that used to be filled with such warmth, now were replaced with a fiery blaze of hatred. No, this wasn't her Hao, this wasn't the one she had fallen in love with. This isn't the one that loved her. 'But what can I do? What can I do? I can't strike him, lest he'll be out of my grasp forever. But he's not him. He's not the Hao Asakura I loved. But Jeanne, you can't kill him. At all costs, you must let him live. Let him live, and this love story is no more. Is that something you're willing to sacrifice?' she asked herself. She shut her eyes tightly and deeply go over the choices. In the end, she let out a single tear and decided. 'It doesn't matter if he loves me or not, as long as he's alive, that's all I want.' She silently whispered to herself. She ran out of the room, tears streaking down her cheeks. Pirika, seeing that she won't be much help to the shaman group raced after Jeanne to comfort her.
Hao smirked and continued his battle as he struck all his foes, which did their best to dodge as many attacks as possible. Anna appeared, beads in hand.
"Anna-chan, he's weak and tired from his consecutive attacks plus he just woke up. Now's your chance." Faust whispered to her. Anna nodded and summoned the 1080 Asakura spirits once again. Yoh's grandparents had recreated the 1080 beads, and given them to Anna for protection as a wedding present. Beads encircled his beast and body, taking him prisoner. This time, Hao turned out to be an easy prey. He had lost most of his powers and strength during the period when he wasn't evil. The group surrounded him, and bounded him tightly.
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Well, hope you enjoyed it!